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Fungal transformations of uranium oxides.

M Fomina1, J M Charnock, S Hillier

  • 1Division of Environmental and Applied Biology, College of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland DD14HN, UK.

Environmental Microbiology
|June 15, 2007
PubMed
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Fungi can transform uranium oxides (UO3 and U(3)O(8)), solubilizing them and accumulating uranium within their biomass. This study provides the first evidence of fungal biotransformation of uranium solids and the creation of new uranium minerals.

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Geochemistry

Background:

  • Uranium cycling and dispersal are influenced by fungal biogeochemical activities.
  • Near-surface uranium geochemistry is complex, but uranium trioxide (UO3) and triuranium octaoxide (U(3)O(8)) serve as model compounds for biotransformation studies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the capacity of various fungi (saprotrophic, ericoid, ectomycorrhizal) to transform model uranium oxides (UO3 and U(3)O(8)).
  • To understand the mechanisms of uranium solubilization, accumulation, and speciation within fungal biomass.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized advanced solid-state speciation and scanning electron microscopy to analyze fungal-uranium interactions.
  • Employed X-ray absorption spectroscopy to determine uranium speciation within fungal mycelium.

Main Results:

  • Fungi demonstrated high tolerance to uranium oxides, with the ability to solubilize UO3 and U(3)O(8).
  • Uranium accumulation in fungal biomass reached over 80 mg (g dry weight)(-1).
  • Uranyl ions were primarily coordinated with phosphate ligands, with mixed phosphate/carboxylate coordination observed in ectomycorrhizal fungi. Uranium-phosphorus precipitates and secondary uranyl phosphate minerals (meta-autunite group) were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Fungi actively transform uranium solids, exhibiting significant tolerance and accumulation capabilities.
  • This research presents the first experimental evidence of fungal biotransformation of uranium solids and the formation of mycogenic uranium minerals, impacting understanding of uranium biogeochemical cycling.